DEF051027 - No. 07

Operational Note

Operational Note

Defence Committee inquiry into Delivering Front Line
Capability to the RAF

On 21 July the Defence Committee announced its inquiry into the delivery of frontline capability to the RAF. The focus of this inquiry is to monitor the progress being made in implementing MoD’s decisions regarding the arrangements for depth maintenance support of military aircraft resulting from its Defence Logistics Transformation Programme.

When the previous Defence Committee considered the issue of depth support of military aircraft in its report, Future Capabilities, published in March 2005, it recommended that MoD should ensure that the high standards of depth support provided by DARA were maintained under the new arrangements at RAF bases and that MoD should ensure that DARA St Athan had a viable future. The Committee’s current inquiry follows up this recommendation by examining how the new arrangements will affect the RAF’s force capability. In particular, the Committee is interested in examining whether the RAF currently has the necessary in-house skills and resources to provide high quality depth support for fixed wing aircraft and identifying any risks.

Committee visits

As part of the inquiry the Committee intends to acquaint itself with the facilities and meet some of the personnel engaged in providing front line support to the RAF by visiting DARA St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan and RAF Marham, Norfolk.

Evidence sessions

The Committee intends to hold formal oral evidence sessions on Monday 21 November in the vicinity of St Athan and on Tuesday 29 November at Westminster. Further details and witnesses will be announced in due course.

2. The Committee’s previous report on Future Capabilities (HC45-1), published March 2005, can be found on the Committee website at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmdfence/45/4502.htm